warner



. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. P. WARNER.

' ELEGTRIG ELEVATOR CONTROLLER.

Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

ANDREW EGIANAM. FHOYOUMQWASIIiNGTDN. 11Cv (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.E. P. WARNER.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR CONTROLLER. No. 555,136 Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

ANDREW B GRAHAM. PHOTO-UTHQWASNINGTQND C (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet J3.

' E. P. WARNER. I

x ELECTRIC ELEVATOR CONTROLLER. No. 555,136. Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

wzlmessesz inventor:

Ernest warmer. I a gs,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST P. IVARNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WVESTERNELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR-CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,136, dated February25, 1896.

Application filed October 29, 1892. Serial No. 450,372. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,- ERNEST P. \VARNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Elevator-Controllers, (Case No. 53,) of which the followingis a full, clear,concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relatesto an electric elevatorcontroller, and its object isto produce a controller by which an electric motor may be controlledfrom the elevator-car to raise or lower the car or to vary its speed.

My invention consists of an arrangement of cams and cam-guides foroperating a re versing-switch and a variable rheostat, together withvarious details of construction hereinafter described.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of theapparatus in the position which it occupies when the elevator-car is atrest. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the shaft turned through ninetyde- I grees in a right-handed direction, the dashpot being shown insection. Fig. 3 is a view of the dash-pot, showing the shell in sectionand a partial sectional view of the plunger, the valve being shown inthe position it assumes when the shell is in the act of ascending. Fig.4 is a View of the dash-pot, showing the means of attaching the plungerto the connecting rod. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electricalconnections, a portion of the resistance of the rheostat being shown ascut out. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the valve of the dash-pot.

The shaft a carries a cam b, which is adapted to engage with a cam-guide0 carried upon a connecting-rod c. The connecting-rod c is attached atits lower end to the shell of the dash-pot, so that the tendency of theconnecting-rod is to move to its position of lowest travel, and it willdo so, except when restrained from such motion by the action of the camZ2 upon the cam-guide c. \Vhen the cam b occupies such a position thatits maximum radius is vertical-and extending upward, the connecting-rodc will be in its highest position. If the cam be turned to the ,itsposition of highest travel all of the resistance of said rheostat willbe cut in, and will be cut out in proportion as the cam b is moved topermit the connectingrod to descend. lVhen the connecting rod shall havedescended to its lowest position, all of the resistance of said rheostatwill have been cut out.

I preferably make the contact-arm in the form of a bell-crank, to thearm (1 of which I attach the end of the connecting-rod. As thecontact-arm moves over the terminals of the rheostat the connecting-rodwill oscillate back and forth, due to the horizontal displacement of theend of the arm (1. It is evident, however, that the contact-arm may beattached to the connecting-rod in a variety of ways.

To the lower end of the connecting-rod c is attached the shell h of thedash-pot. This shell is in the form of a cylinder closed at the top, andis adapted to slide upon a cylindrical standard or plunger 11, whoseexternal diameter is somewhat less than the internal diameter of theshell h. The end of the rod 0 is preferably bifurcated and the arms ofthe fork pivotally attached to the shell h. The plunger 71 is hollow andis provided at the top with aport i, which is normally closed by a valve4?. This valve I preferably make of a flexible plate or strip i as ofleather or rubber, fastened to one side of the port by screws i andcarrying upon its upper face a block i of rigid material. \Vhen theplunger h ascends the density of the air within the shell and above theplunger 1' will be decreased and the pressure of the external air willopen the valve 1' by bending the flexible strip between the screws 2'and the block '6 as shown in Fig. lVhen the shell has reached itsposition of uppermost travel, its interior will be filled with air ofatmospheric pressure. As the shell descends the valve 2' closes upon itsseat and prevents escape of the air through the port '6. The only meansof escape for the air is now through the annular passage between theexterior cylindrical surface of the plunger 2' and the interiorcylindrical surface of the shell 7L, caused by the difference in theexternal diameter of the plunger and the internal diameter of the shell,or by means of adjustable cock 7.:, which may be placed at any point inthe upper portion of the shell. The force causing the shell to descendis its own weight and that of the connecting-rod, and the means forescape of the iuclosed air being limited the air will act as a cushionand insure the gradual and steady descent of the shell, and thecontact-arm of the rheost-at will be moved smoothly over the terminalpoints. Upon the shaft a is also mounted a cam e, preferably in the formof an eccentric. A connectin g-rod c is attached by one end to theeccentric by means of a strap 0, and at the other end is suitablyconnected with a reversingswitch g. The switch g I preferably make inthe form of two pivoted levers having their free ends connected by aninsulated crossbar, to the end of which is attached the connecting-rod cUpon either side of each lever is a terminal point with which saidlevers are adapted to engage, the terminals 6 6 being connected to oneside of the feeding-circuit and the terminals m m to the other. Thelevers are connected. to the armature-circuit and form the terminalsthereof, the circuit being from one lever through the rheostat andarmature to the other lever. \Vhen the levers occupy an intermediateposition, the circuit through the armature will be open, and when theyare moved to the right circuit will be closed through the armature inone direction, and when moved to the left it will be closed in theopposite direction.

It will be seen that by rotating the shaft (1 in either direction theC-Olll'lGOillllg-l'Od 0 will act to cut out the resistance, so that thespeed of the motor and consequently of the elevat0rcar will depend uponthe angle that the cam 1') makes with the vertical. The eccentric 6being set upon the shaft so that its maximum radius is perpendicular tothe axis of the connecting-rod c when the switch-levers occupy anintermediate position between the terminal points, any motion of theshaft in one direction or the other will act to cause said levers tomake contact with one pair of terminals; but if the shaft be rotated inone direction a current will be sent through the armature in a definitedirection, and if it be rotated in the other direction the current willtraverse the armature in the opposite direction. Thus while rotation ofthe shaft in either direction will always cause a cutting out ofresistance of the rheostat rotation in one direction will cause thecurrent to traverse the armature to cause the same to rotate inadefinite direction, while a rotation of the shaft in the oppositedirection will reverse the current through the armature to cause thesame to revolve in an opposite direction. The cams and c0nnections areso adjusted that when the shaft (I. is rotated the levers of the switchwill make contact with a pair of terminals before the contact-arm of therheostat leaves the first terminal thereof, so that current may be sentthrough the armature while all of the resistance of the rheostat is incircuit. As the shaft is further rotated, resistance is cut out whilethe switch-levers continue to move over the terminal points. By makingthe cam that actuates the reversing-lever in the form of an eccentricthe maximum velocity is imparted to the switch-levers at the time ofstarting, thus closing the circuit through the armature quickly, whilefurther rotation. of the shaft causes a slower motion of theswitch-levers over the terminals. This arrangement of the eccentric alsoinsures a quick break of the armature-circuit at the time of stoppin Theelevator-car being at rest at the bottom of the shaft, and thecoiltrolling apparatus being in the position shown in Fig. 1, all of theresistance of the rheostat in. circuit with the armature, and thecircuit through the armature is open at the reversin g-switch. Theoperator upon the car pulling upon the handrope rotates the shaft a,say, to the right. This rotation of the shaft a first moves theswitchlevers through a sufficient distance to close the circuit throughthe armature of the motor to send current through the same in adirection to cause the armature to revolve to hoist the car, but thetotal resistance of the rheostat being now in circuit with the armaturethe rate of rotation thereof will be small, so that the speed of the carwill. be low. If the shaft to be further rota-ted to the right,resistance will be cut out of the armature-circuit and, supposing theload constant, the rate of rotation of the armature will increase. 'henthe shaft has been turned through about ninety degrees and the shell hascompleted. its descent, all of the resistance of the rheostat will havebeen thrown out of the armature-circuit and the speed of the car will bea maximum. \Vhen the operator desires to stop the car, the shaft isrotated to the left to its original position, the circuit through thearmature being thus opened and the car is brought to rest.

\Vhen it is desired to descend, the shaft: is rotated to the left toclose the circuit through the armature of the motor to send current inan opposite direction, whereby the armature will rotate in a direction.to lower the car. As the shaft is further rotated resistance is cut outof the armatiu-e-cireuit to increase the speed of the car. The car isbrought to rest by rotating the shaft back to its original position.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the pulley 02, mounted rigidly on the shaft (1 isadapted to be rotated by the cord 0, which is arranged to be within easyreach of the operator upon the car at all I do not wish to limit myselfto this times.

Oil

precise mode of communicating rotary motion to the shaft a from the car,as it is obvious many other means may be employed besides the cord andpulley shown.

I do not deem it necessary to show the mechanical connection between themotor and the elevator-car, as that does not constitute an essentialfeature of my invention and as any well-known method of making suchconnection may be employed.

An important feature of my invention is the construction of the rheostatand the connection with the case h of the dash-pot in such a manner thatthe resistance of the rheostat may be gradually or instantaneouslyintroduced into circuit at the will of the operator, but it can bewithdrawn only gradually, the withdrawal being accomplished by thegradual descent by gravity of the case h. The rate of descent of case hmay be adjusted as desired by opening or closing the air-cock 7c. Theresult of this operation is that when the car is first started, nomatter how suddenly the position of the cam Z) is changed from verticalto horizontal, the motor is not at once called upon to operate theelevator at full speed, but on the contrary the car starts slowly andgradually acquires its full speed, thus avoiding jar, undue strain oncables, and loss of energy. At the same time the car may be graduallyslowed down while ascending or descending.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. In an electric elevator-controller, the combinationwith a shaft, the rotation of which may be controlled by the operator inan elevator-car, of cams mounted upon said shaft, the contact-arm of arheostat, areversing-switch, and linkage between said cams and saidcontact-arm and said switch respectively, whereby the electric motoractuating said elevator-car may be controlled, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a controller for electric elevators, the combination with a shaft,the rotation of which may be controlled by the operator in anelevator-car, of a cam mounted upon said shaft, a rheostat contact-arm,linkage. between said cam and said contact-arm, an cecentric mountedupon said shaft, a connecting-rod attached by one end to said eccentricby means of a strap, a reversing-switch and connection between saidconnecting-rod and said switch, whereby the electric motor actuatingsaid elevator-car may be controlled, substantially as described.

In a controller for electric elevators, the combination with a shaft,therotation of which may be controlled by the operator in an elevator-car,of a cam mounted upon said shaft, a connecting-rod carrying a guideadapted to engage with said cam, a rheostat contact-arm, connectionbetween said contact-arm and said connecting-rod, means for giving tosaid connecting-roda tendency to move in a direction to operate thecontact-arm, an eccentric carried upon said shaft, a connecting-rodattached at one end to said eccentric by a strap, a reversing-switch,connection between said connecting-rod and said switch, whereby theelectric motor actuating said elevator car may be controlled,substantially as described.

4:. The combination with a shaft, the rotation of which may becontrolled by the operator in an elevator-car, of a cam mounted uponsaid shaft, a connecting-rod carrying a guide adapted to engage withsaid earn, a dash-pot connected to the end of said connecting-rod, arheostat contact-arm, connection between said arm and the end of saidconnecting-rod, an eccentric mounted upon said shaft, a connecting-rodattached at one end to said eccentric by a strap, a reversing-switch andconnections between said switch and said c0nnecting-rod, whereby theelectric motor actuatin g said elevator-car may be controlled,substantially as described.

5. The combination with the shaft a, the rotation of which may becontrolled by the operator in an elevator-car, of a cam b mountedthereon, connecting-rod 0, guide 0 carried thereon, casing h of thedash-pot attached to the end of said rod 0, rheostat contact-arm (Zcarrying an arm 01, to which is attached the end of rod 0', eccentric emounted upon the shaft a, connecting-rod e attached to said eccentric bystraps, and switch g,whereby the electric motor actuating saidelevator-car maybe controlled, substantially as described.

6. In a mechanism for actuating the contact-arm of a rheostat, thecombination with a rotatable shaft, of a cam mounted thereon, aconnecting-rod carrying a guide for said cam connected by one end withsaid contact-arm, a dash-pot connected to said connecting-rod, wherebysaid rod is given a tendency to move in a direction to operate saidcontact-arm, sub stantially as described.

7. In the actuating mechanism of a variable rheostat the combinationwith a cam, of a connecting-rod adapted to be moved in one direction bysaid cam and an adjustable dash-pot adapted to regulate the rate ofmovement of said connecting-rod in the other direction, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination with a cylindrical standard provided with a port inits upper end in communication with the external air, of a valve adaptedto close said port, a plunger in the form of a cylinder open at one endadapted to work upon said standard, the diameter of said standard beingsomewhat less than the internal diameter of said cylindrical plunger,whereby a limited escape for the inclosed air is provided and a cushionformed to the descent of the plunger, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of October,A. D. 1892.

ERNEST P. WARNER.

Witnesses:

W. CLYDE J onus, GEORGE L. CRAGG.

